Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Serpentine trainer Giles Inwood has always had a keen eye for a bargain, and he celebrated his 40TH birthday at Gloucester Park on Friday night with an easy win with Firerockfireroll in the Nova 93.7 Pace.
He made no secret of his admiration for Firerockfireroll when the Victorian-bred gelding won five times for trainer Michael Young.
“I asked Michael if I could buy him about 12 months ago, but he wasn’t willing to get rid of the horse,” said Inwood. “But six months later he told me that he had too many horses in work and that I could purchase Firerockfireroll for $10,000.
“So, I bought the horse and syndicated him with Fran Meyer, Dylan Voak, Rick Flint and Ron Sciani. And tonight, they enjoyed his first win for us.”
Firerockfireroll was the $1.20 favourite from the prized No. 1 barrier and Chris Voak drove him to an all-the-way victory, winning by just over three lengths from $14 chance Carrera Mach, who followed him all the way.
This gave Mrs Meyer, the mother of recently retired champion cyclist Cameron Meyer, her first win with her first pacer, while Flint unfortunately missed the chance to cheer Firerockfireroll home as he was in laid up hospital suffering from an ear ailment.
Firerockfireroll, an experienced seven-year-old, has now had nine starts for his new owners for a win and three third placings for stakes of $11,046.
Inwood is hopeful that Firerockfireroll will win more races and follow in the footsteps of 11-year-old stablemate Disco Under Fire, who finished seventh behind Firerockfireroll on Friday night when contesting his 224TH race.
Inwood made a wise decision to buy Disco Under Fire for a mere $4000 just over four years ago. Disco Under Fire is still enjoying racing and was a Gloucester Park winner in March this year. He has been an iron horse who has had 128 starts for Inwood for nine wins, 25 placings and $133,492.
Firerockfireroll was having his second start on Friday night after a two-month absence, with Inwood saying: “His legs were a bit of an issue, so I gave him a little break and changed his work, and instead of hoppling him I have been galloping him in the heavy sand.”
Firerockfireroll is certainly bred to be a good winner. He is by former champion pacer Courage Under Fire and is the third foal out of the Grinfromeartoear mare Rocknrolla, who earned $287,351 from 12 wins and seven placings from 27 starts, with her successes including the Group 1 Vicbred Super Series finals for two-year-old and three-year-old fillies at Melton.
Firerockfireroll has now raced 62 times for 15 wins, 16 placings and $181,422.